CAPTIVATING BEAST; 1913 STUTZ MODEL B FOUR-CYLINDER BEARCAT ROADSTER.(Escape Roads)

Byline: BROOKS BRIERLEY

Harry Stutz created the quintessential American sports car in Indianapolis in 1912, making a street-legal version of the race car he'd entered in the first Indianapolis 500. It was very basic yet stunning-looking-a chassis with two tufted-leather armchair-style seats and instruments hung behind the firewall to mimic a dashboard. A monocle-shaped windshield, some nickel trim and a floor of pyramid aluminum finished the picture. Adding the Bearcat name gave it special status.

This 1913 model now lives at the National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada. Collector Bill Harrah bought it in 1961 as an attraction for visitors to his hotels and casinos. It looks like new, painted in original colors-red body with vermilion chassis-and rolling on McCue 25-inch wire wheels.

Starting the Bearcat is a process. There is no central lubrication system-grease cups mounted throughout the car need to be checked first. Turning on the fuel is next, then retarding the spark (from the steering wheel) and the battery. "Then take a deep breath,'' adds the museum's automotive shop manager, Jay Hubbard. There is no electric starter; pulling the crank up from the low, vertical-rest position to about 11 o'clock should get things going. Before our drive, some coaxing was needed-adding small amounts of gasoline directly into the carburetor and the cylinders (by unscrewing the spark plugs)-before the cranking took effect.

After running, when the engine is shut off, compression does ...